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Mental health concerns increase women's workplace injury risk

A recent study, published in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine on Feb. 12, suggests that women with fatigue, anxiety or depression are at higher risk of suffering injuries on the job than their male counterparts.

In order to reach this conclusion, researchers at the Colorado School of Public Health combed through some 17,000 different claims for workers' compensation. The cases that the Center for Health, Work and Environment researchers reviewed spanned a variety of industries across 314 different employers.

Of those cases reviewed, at least 60 percent of injury cases among women occurred after the victim had reported a mental health concern. Men only suffered injuries under the same circumstances in 33 percent of all cases.

The lead scientist spearheading this research suggests that several cultural and social factors may point to why women are nearly twice as likely than men to suffer injuries after reporting mental illness. She notes that women often face far more stressors both at home and work than men. She also points out that men are less likely to embrace their health concerns than women are.As far as the one instance in which both men and women are on par with one another? Research shows that women and men who have suffered prior injuries are likely to do so once again.

The research team ultimately concluded that in order for workers to remain safe, it requires more than simply offering a cookie cutter safety awareness program. It instead involves a three-prong approach whereby employees are taught about safety alongside improving their overall health and well-being.

If you've been injured on the job, then a Los Lunas workers' compensation attorney can advise you as to whether you may be eligible to file an injury claim in your case.

Source: Safety & Health Magazine, "Health conditions raise women’s risk of work-related injuries, study finds," Feb. 28, 2018

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